Retirement savings for freelancers work differently: there’s no employer 401(k) and no company match, but you get access to plans with much higher limits than most employees. These guides explain your options with 2026 contribution limits checked on IRS.gov, so you can save more and lower your taxes at the same time.
Start here: our comparison of retirement plans for self-employed workers: SEP IRA vs Solo 401(k) vs Roth IRA, with limits, deadlines and real examples.
Related guides:
Contribution limits change every year, so check the current numbers before you contribute.
A SEP IRA for freelancers lets you save up to 20% of your net self-employment earnings for retirement, with a cap of $72,000 in 2026. Every dollar you put in lowers your income tax. It’s also one of the simplest accounts to run: no annual IRS filing, and you can open and fund it as … Read more
For most freelancers, the best Solo 401(k) providers are the big brokerages: Fidelity, E*TRADE and Charles Schwab. All three charge no setup or annual fee, offer Roth contributions and let you trade stocks and ETFs commission-free. E*TRADE stands out because it also allows loans. If you earn a lot and want to save beyond the … Read more
The Solo 401(k) contribution limits for 2026 let you save up to $72,000, or more if you’re 50 or older. That total has two parts. As the “employee,” you can put in up to $24,500. As the “employer,” your business can add up to 20% of your net self-employment earnings. Because you wear both hats, … Read more
Retirement plans for self-employed workers let you save far more than most employees can, and cut your taxes at the same time. The three main options are the SEP IRA, the Solo 401(k) and the Roth IRA. For most freelancers with no employees, a Solo 401(k) allows the biggest contributions. A SEP IRA is the … Read more